The verdict in three sentences
Yes, you can learn the basics of HTML and CSS on an Android smartphone in Thiès, with a free code editor and a 5,000 FCFA data bundle of about 10 GB. What is hard on a phone is delivering a site to a client: long stylesheets, testing on several screens and going live are much faster on a computer. The smart path is to start on your phone with the Kolonell Academy HTML and CSS course, taught in French, at 50,000 FCFA (about 76 EUR) for 12 hours, then fund a refurbished laptop with your first websites.
What you can really do on a phone
An entry-level Android smartphone is enough to write code if you install the right tools. Free editors such as Acode or Spck Editor highlight syntax, handle several files and show a preview in the phone's browser. A second-hand Bluetooth keyboard, often 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA at the market, also makes typing far more comfortable.
| Task | On a smartphone | On a computer |
|---|---|---|
| Write a semantic HTML page | Doable, a bit slow | Fast |
| Learn CSS selectors and properties | Doable, instant preview | Fast, with developer tools |
| Flexbox and Grid layout | Doable, small screen to compare | Comfortable, several windows |
| Test responsive design on several sizes | Limited to your screen | Device simulator built into the browser |
| Lighthouse audit and image optimisation | Difficult | Standard |
| Deploy and manage a client project | Possible, awkward | Recommended |
In practice, the modules on semantic HTML, forms and CSS fundamentals work very well on a phone. The module on maintainable CSS, performance and deployment, checked with Lighthouse, is much more comfortable on a computer, even a borrowed one for a few hours.
What getting started costs in Thiès in 2026
The main hurdle is not the course, it is the hardware. Here are orders of magnitude for a young person in Thiès starting from scratch.
| Item (2026 order of magnitude) | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Android code editor (Acode, Spck) | 0 FCFA | Free on the Play Store |
| Monthly data bundle | 5,000 FCFA for about 10 GB | Enough for lessons and documentation |
| Second-hand Bluetooth keyboard | 5,000 to 10,000 FCFA | Optional, very useful |
| Kolonell HTML and CSS course | 50,000 FCFA | 12 h, 2 projects, certificate |
| In-person course at a training centre | 100,000 to 300,000 FCFA | Fixed hours, often with a computer on site |
| Free YouTube videos and certificates | 0 FCFA excluding data | No correction or graded project |
| Refurbished laptop | 120,000 to 200,000 FCFA | To be funded by your first contracts |
The course has 5 modules, 25 lessons, 61 corrected exercises and a quiz per module. You submit two projects graded against a rubric: a landing page for a Dakar restaurant, then a 4-page responsive website for a small business. Together they form your first portfolio. It is level 2 of the Web development track, which has 5 levels for 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000, payable with Wave or Orange Money.
What your first websites can earn
In Thiès, Dakar or Mbour, many small businesses still have no website: restaurants, driving schools, clinics, private schools, tailoring workshops. A beginner front-end developer does not sell complex platforms, but can offer simple, clean pages.
| Service (2026 order of magnitude) | Beginner price | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| One-page landing page | 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA | 3 to 5 days |
| Simple 4 to 5 page showcase site | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Edits and updates | 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA per job | 1 day |
| Site with payment or client area | Beyond level 2 | Later levels of the track |
These are market ranges. Landing the first clients often takes several weeks and no income is guaranteed. An online portfolio and a link you can share on WhatsApp help a lot.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Mamadou, 21, a student in Thiès with no computer. He takes the course on his Android phone with a Bluetooth keyboard bought for 7,000 FCFA, and borrows a cousin's laptop for two evenings for the deployment module.
- Starting investment: 50,000 FCFA course, plus 7,000 FCFA keyboard, plus 2 months of data at 5,000 FCFA, so 67,000 FCFA.
- Two months after the certificate, he builds a landing page for a Thiès restaurant for 100,000 FCFA, then a 4-page site for a driving school for 180,000 FCFA.
- Total earned: 280,000 FCFA.
- Left after the starting investment: 280,000 minus 67,000, so 213,000 FCFA, enough for a 150,000 FCFA refurbished laptop.
This scenario is plausible, but it depends on his network and consistency. Other learners take three to six months to sign a first contract.
FAQ
Is a smartphone enough to earn the certificate?
Most of the 25 lessons and 61 exercises can be done on a phone. For the final project and deployment, plan a few hours on a computer, borrowed or at a cybercafé for about 300 to 500 FCFA an hour.
What is the minimum phone I need?
An Android with 3 GB of RAM and enough storage for a code editor and an up-to-date browser is usually enough. A bigger screen and an external keyboard make the work much more comfortable.
Do I need to know how to code already?
This is level 2 of the track, so it helps to have written your first tags, for example with level 1, Discover code. A motivated complete beginner can follow, but will progress more slowly.
How long before I sell a first website?
Count 12 hours of course time, then several weeks of practice and prospecting. A first 75,000 to 150,000 FCFA contract often comes 1 to 6 months after the certificate, with no guarantee.
How do I pay for the course?
Payment is by Wave or Orange Money: 50,000 FCFA for this level, or 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 for all 5 levels of the Web development track.
Take the next step. Enroll in HTML and CSS: build and lay out a real website (taught in French): 12 hours, 50,000 FCFA, 2 graded projects and a certificate verifiable online. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
